Rohit Sharma led Team India to a resounding victory over the USA in the T-20 Cricket World Cup match held at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium on Long Island. While the match itself was a straightforward win for India, the true excitement and pride were palpable among the Indian-American community in attendance.
The stadium, packed with 34,000 supporters, overflowed with Indian-American pride as flags waved and chants echoed with slogans like “USA is home. India is heart” and “I live in the US but my heart always belongs to India.” This fervor was a testament to the strong connection these fans maintain with their homeland even while living abroad.
On June 12, both teams entered the match undefeated, but India’s Suryakumar Yadav’s stellar batting performance ensured a comfortable victory for India by seven wickets, securing their spot in the “super eight” round. Despite this setback, the US team still holds a chance to advance if they defeat Ireland in their upcoming match.
Ankur Barot, a 39-year-old Indian supporter who served in the US Army and is now an American citizen, attended the game with his 13-year-old son, who cheered for the US team. Barot, draped in an Indian flag, reflected on the mixed emotions of allegiance and familial pride during the game. Despite his son’s preference for the US team, Barot remains proud of both his heritage and his son’s American identity.
“We are so proud of the American cricket team. They are fantastic. They hustle, they play hard. Today they played their hearts out,” remarked Bobby Singh Grewal, a 51-year-old immigrant from India who moved to the US in 1995, underscoring the admiration and respect for both teams’ efforts.
Mayank Kohli, a first-generation Indian-American from Philadelphia, jokingly showed his mixed allegiance, saying he supports the US as a home game obligation but secretly wears an India shirt underneath, ensuring he wins either way.
Across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), cricket enthusiasts shared their excitement for the match, highlighting moments of familial bonding and the global appeal of cricket as a sport. The friendly rivalry between India and the USA on the cricket field captured the imagination of fans worldwide, emphasizing the universal love for the game.
